THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2024 43 Shortly after arriving in Bishkek, Overfield connected with the city’s leading animal rescue group. He was struck by the dedication of local women, who worked tirelessly to save animals in distress. Many of the volunteers were retirees, affectionately known as babushki, or “grandmas,” who used their modest pensions to feed the ever-growing number of stray cats in the city. Tragically, the volunteers explained, many of these strays perished during the harsh Kyrgyz winters or faced even worse fates at the hands of animal control. These conversations, coupled with Overfield’s own past experiences caring for street cats, inspired the idea for the Mishek Ui project. The project’s mission was simple: humanely reduce the stray cat population through a Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program, and build low-cost, winterized shelters to increase the cats’ chances of surviving Bishkek’s brutal winters. Overfield partnered with one of the city’s top veterinary schools, the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, and local animal welfare advocates to make his vision a reality. Together, they drafted a proposal and secured a small grant from the J. Kirby Simon Foreign Service Trust. With this support, the team got to work. Local volunteers, including embassy staff, caught up to seven cats a day, which received anti-parasitic treatments and sterilization surgery from 30 veterinary students, who gained valuable clinical experience in the process. The project also built 32 winterized cat homes in just one afternoon, using cost-effective materials provided by a local wholesaler. Embassy staff volunteers translated instructional cards into Russian and Kyrgyz, which were laminated and attached to the shelters. The shelters were then delivered to residents of Bishkek and surrounding villages, who monitored local cat colonies. The Mishek Ui project quickly surpassed expectations. In just two months, the team treated approximately 150 cats, far exceeding their initial goal. At the closing ceremony, the enthusiastic participants asked a single question: “When can we resume work next spring?” Overfield was scheduled to depart post, but before leaving, he passed on his contacts and knowledge to another dedicated embassy colleague. The local coalition continues to meet and expand the work. Reflecting on his achievements from his new home in Frankfurt, Overfield says: “This prize means so much to me and, more importantly, to our partners in the Bishkek cat community: the vet faculty and students at the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, the local rescue groups and volunteers, and our embassy colleagues. Their efforts helped us far exceed our initial goals.” Overfield plans to use the money from the Bohlen award to help volunteers in Bishkek continue the important work he started. With funding in place, the coalition plans to resume the program this fall, just as the vet students return to school. Overfield’s work has already begun reducing Bishkek’s stray cat population while improving local health outcomes by limiting the spread of disease. But Overfield’s impact goes far beyond animal welfare. His project fostered meaningful relationships between the U.S. embassy, local veterinary students, and animal rescue advocates, demonstrating the power of grassroots efforts in uniting communities. His work reflects the best of what American diplomacy has to offer: creativity, compassion, and an unwavering belief in the power of collaboration. Cornell Overfield and his team of local volunteers building winterized cat homes. This prize means so much to me and, more importantly, to our partners in the Bishkek cat community: the vet faculty and students at the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, the local rescue groups and volunteers, and our embassy colleagues. Their efforts helped us far exceed our initial goals. —CORNELL OVERFIELD
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